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Greek Lessons
- Why with Sinners? The Syntax of Scandalized Questions in Matthew 9:11
- Stingers and Power: Similitude, Purpose, and Present Force in Revelation 9:10
- Of Shadows and Conscience: Relative Time and Mental Completion in Hebrews 9:9
- The Overflowing Syntax of Grace: Distributive Emphasis and Participial Purpose in 2 Corinthians 9:8
- Who Fights Without Pay? Rhetorical Interrogatives and Negated Expectation in 1 Corinthians 9:7
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Category
Monthly Archives: October 2018
Mastering Greek Verb Endings in the New Testament
Greek Verb Endings in the New Testament: A Quick Guide
In New Testament Greek, verb endings help us determine the grammatical person (first, second, third) and number (singular, plural), as well as the tense (e.g., present, future, aorist) and voice (active, middle, passive). This guide provides a comprehensive overview of verb endings in the main indicative tenses, organized by tense and voice. These tables will help you recognize verb forms in the Greek New Testament.
Present Tense Endings Active Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -ω -ομεν 2nd Person -εις -ετε 3rd Person -ει -ουσι(ν) Middle/Passive Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -ομαι -όμεθα 2nd Person -ῃ / -ει -εσθε 3rd Person -εται -ονταιFuture Tense Endings Active Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -σω -σομεν 2nd Person -σεις -σετε 3rd Person -σει -σουσι(ν) Middle Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -σομαι -σόμεθα 2nd Person -σῃ / -σει -σεσθε 3rd Person -σεται -σονται Passive Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -θησομαι -θησόμεθα 2nd Person -θησῃ / -θησει -θησεσθε 3rd Person -θησεται -θησονται
Imperfect Tense Endings Active Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -ον -ομεν 2nd Person -ες -ετε 3rd Person -ε(ν) -ον Middle/Passive Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -ομην -όμεθα 2nd Person -ου -εσθε 3rd Person -ετο -οντο
Aorist Tense Endings Active Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -α -αμεν 2nd Person -ας -ατε 3rd Person -ε(ν) -αν Middle Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -άμην -άμεθα 2nd Person -ω -ασθε 3rd Person -ατο -αντο Passive Voice Person Singular Plural 1st Person -θην -θημεν 2nd Person -θης -θητε 3rd Person -θη -θησαν
In New Testament Greek, understanding how to identify the different grammatical persons (first, second, and third) and numbers (singular and plural) is key for reading and interpretation.… Learn Koine Greek
Outside the Praetorium: Purity, Purpose, and the Irony of Avoidance
Ἄγουσιν οὖν τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἀπὸ τοῦ Καϊάφα εἰς τὸ πραιτώριον· ἦν δὲ πρωΐ· καὶ αὐτοὶ οὐκ εἰσῆλθον εἰς τὸ πραιτώριον, ἵνα μὴ μιανθῶσιν, ἀλλ’ ἵνα φάγωσι τὸ πάσχα. (John 18:28)
Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium. It was early in the morning, and they themselves did not enter the Praetorium, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.
The Irony of Ritual CleanlinessThis verse captures a piercing irony: those delivering Jesus to be judged are scrupulous about maintaining ritual purity, avoiding contamination from a Gentile place lest they be rendered unfit to eat the Pesaḥ (Passover).… Learn Koine Greek
To Build, Not to Tear Down: Apostolic Authority in Koine and Classical Perspective
Διὰ τοῦτο ταῦτα ἀπὼν γράφω, ἵνα παρὼν μὴ ἀποτόμως χρήσωμαι κατὰ τὴν ἐξουσίαν ἣν ἔδωκέ μοι ὁ Κύριος εἰς οἰκοδομὴν καὶ οὐκ εἰς καθαίρεσιν. (2 Corinthians 13:10)
Because of this, I write these things while absent, so that when present I may not act harshly, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.
Koine Greek Grammar and Syntax Διὰ τοῦτο ταῦτα: Causal phrase combining a preposition and demonstrative pronouns. The reduplication is for emphasis — “because of this, these things.” Such redundancy is stylistic in Koine, less typical in Classical. ἀπὼν γράφω: Present tense verb γράφω with the circumstantial participle ἀπὼν (“being absent”).… Learn Koine GreekDeclensions That Proclaim Resurrection: Case Study in Acts 4:10
Γνωστὸν ἔστω πᾶσιν ὑμῖν καὶ παντὶ τῷ λαῷ Ἰσραὴλ ὅτι ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ Ναζωραίου, ὃν ὑμεῖς ἐσταυρώσατε, ὃν ὁ Θεὸς ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν, ἐν τούτῳ οὗτος παρέστηκεν ἐνώπιον ὑμῶν ὑγιής. (Acts 4:10)
Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in this one this man stands before you healthy.
Case Patterns as Rhetorical Architecture Datives (πᾶσιν ὑμῖν, παντὶ τῷ λαῷ, ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι, ἐν τούτῳ) set the framework of address and agency: to whom the speech is directed, in whose name the miracle occurs.… Learn Koine Greek